When you log into WHM for the first time, you will see an Initial Setup screen. This feature will help you configure your server in 6 steps.

STEP 1: AGREEMENT

Please read the license agreement and click I Agree/Go To Step 2.

Note: To view more information about this version of WHM, click View Release Notes.

STEP 2: SETUP NETWORKING

This area allows you to define contact information. Required fields are marked with a red asterisk (redasterisk.jpg). Under the Contact Information heading: In the Server Contact Email Address field, enter the email address at which you wish to be contacted if your server has a problem. If you would like to be contacted via text messages, enter a phone number into the Server Contact SMS Address field. Under the Hostname heading: Enter your server's hostname into the This Server's Hostname field. PICK Remember: The hostname, in this case, must be a fully qualified domain name (FQDN). FQDNs are domain names that specify the exact location from the top level user domain to the root domain, when read from right to left. This hostname will require you to use 3 dots (.), for example: server.example.com. You must specify your FQDN in lowercase letters.

ABOUT RESOLVER

resolver initiate DNS queries, in effect, allowing your server to find and convert human-readable domain names to machine-readable IP addresses. You will need to configure these resolver in order for your server to work correctly. Resolver IP addresses should already be filled in for you. If they are not already filled in, please use 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. Under the resolver heading: Enter a primary resolver IP address into the Primary Resolver field. This should already be filled in for you. If it is not, please enter 8.8.8.8. Enter a secondary resolver IP address into the Secondary Resolver field. This should already be filled in for you. If it is not, please enter 8.8.4.4. note Note: The primary and secondary resolvers are required fields. If you have a third resolver IP address, enter it into the Third Resolver field. Adding an additional resolver, though not required, is a good idea for helping ensure your server's uptime if anything should happen to either of your other resolvers. Under the Main Network/Ethernet Device heading: The appropriate option will already be selected for you. Click Save & Go to Step 3. You may go back to Step 1 by clicking the Go Back button.

STEP 3: SETUP IP ADDRESSES

This area allows you to add IP addresses to your server. If you wish to skip this step, click Skip This Step and Use Default Settings. The IP addresses assigned to your VPS have been automatically added for you. Click Go to Step 4. You may go back to Step 2 by clicking the Go Back button.

STEP 4: NAME-SERVERS

This screen allows you to configure name servers. Name servers are responsible for spreading your server's DNS information throughout the Internet. DNS allows visitors to access websites on your server. To configure a name-server: Select the name-server software you would like to use, or disable local name-servers by clicking the corresponding button. PICK Important: Read through the advantages, disadvantages, and notes before making a decision. The BIND nameserver software will be adequate for most servers. We recommend using BIND. Next, you will need to choose nameserver domains. You will need to add these at your domain registrar before they will work. To add name-server domains: Enter the first name-server into the Nameserver 1 field. Most name-servers follow the naming convention ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com, where example.com stands for your domain name. Enter the second name-server into the Nameserver 2 field. The last step in configuring your name-servers is to add A entries for your name-servers and hostnames. A entries are records on your server that resolve domain names into their corresponding IP addresses. To add A entries: Click the Add "A Entries" for all Name-servers checkbox. Enter the IP addresses for each of your nameservers. Click Add "A Entries" for Hostname if you would like to add an A entry for your server's hostname. If you clicked the Add "A Entries" for Hostname checkbox, enter the IP address for your server. Click Save & Go to Step 5. You may go back to Step 3 by clicking the Go Back button.

STEP 5: SERVICES

This screen allows you to configure the services you and your clients will be able to use on the server. To begin, select which, if any, FTP server software you would like to use. To configure an FTP server: Select the FTP server software you would like to use, or disable FTP, by clicking the appropriate button.

Remember: Review the information within the Advantages, Disadvantages, and Notes fields before making a decision. The default selection is generally adequate. To configure a mail server: Select the mail server you would like to use, or disable mail, by clicking the corresponding button.

Remember: Review the information within the Advantages, Disadvantages, and Notes fields before making a decision. If you're switching mail servers: If you wish to preserve settings for each mailbox as you migrate to the new mail server, click the checkbox under the Convert Mailbox Format heading. Unchecking this box will speed up the migration, however, email settings may be lost. The default selection generally adequate. The final step in configuring the services for use on your server is to select whether you would like to use our cPHulk software. cPHulk is a small program that will run in the background of your server to prevent people from successfully using a brute force attack to gain access to your server.

To enable and configure cPHulk:

Click the Enable cPHulk checkbox.

Use the checkboxes to determine:

Whether to extend lockout time for each additional failure past the limit. Whether you will receive notifications when a brute force attack is detected.

You may access cPHulk's advanced settings by clicking the Configure Advanced Settings checkbox.

Using the advanced settings you can: Specify the number of minutes you would like to block the IP address of a potentially malicious user (in the IP Based Brute Force Protection Period in minutes field). Specify the number of minutes to lock an account in the Brute Force Protection Period in minutes field. Specify the maximum number of failed authentication attempts allowed by an account in the Maximum Failures By Account field. Specify the maximum number of failed authentication attempts allowed by a particular IP address in the Maximum Failures Per IP field. Specify the number of failed authentication attempts before an IP is blocked for 2 weeks in the Maximum Failures Per IP before IP is blocked for two week period field. Click Save & Go to Step 6. You may go back to Step 4 by clicking the Go Back button.

STEP 6: SET UP QUOTAS

This is the final stage of the Initial Setup process. You will need to select whether you would like to track disk usage on your server. This is generally a good idea if you plan to lease server space to individual users. However, if you do not plan to host individual accounts on your server, you may not need to enable quotas.

To set up quotas:

Select Use file system quotas.

Remember: This is a good idea if you plan to host individual accounts on your server.

To disable quotas:

Select Do not use file system quotas.

Remember: This is not a good idea if you plan to host individual accounts on your server.

Once you have finished, click the Finish Setup Wizard button. You will then be taken to the WHM homepage.